“Set your goals high, and don’t stop till you get there.”- Bo Jackson

I haven't updated my blog in a long time and figured it was about time! In the last update I was headed to Austria in October. I had some good days of training in Hintertux, and really thought that my riding was improving. Unfortunately during one of my runs I made a mistake on the track and ended up crashing hard. I don't remember any of that run, and only remember a little bit of being in a helicopter on the way to the hospital. I ended up with a concussion and 4 broken ribs, and spent 4 days in the hospital. Shortly after that I headed back to Canada to recover. I left feeling very discouraged but determined to work hard to come back strong for the ret of the season. I spent a lot of time in physio, and after a lot of work was able to get back on snow Mid December.

I went home for the holidays and had an awesome time riding in Fernie with friends and family and the snow was great! In January I headed back to Whistler for a few days before heading to Big White for a short training camp. It felt good to be back on a race board and back on track. Mid January we headed to Switzerland for some training before heading to Germany for a World Cup. I had some good days of training, and it was fun to get back for my first race of the season, and second World Cup ever. The course was a sprint race and only took just over 30 seconds to ride. On the Qualification day my first run did not qualify me through to heats, and I was determined to push myself on my second run. On my second run I had a lot more speed out of the start than I had all week, and ended up falling over the first jump. I don't remember much of crashing, but I do remember knowing mid air that I had made a mistake. In the end that mistake ended up resulting in a fractured pelvis.

I am now back in Whistler and working on a lot of rehab, and am feeling a lot better. I am able to walk without crutches for longer and longer, and I am happy to be back in the gym and focusing on recovering and getting strong for next season. I am hoping to get on snow again in Whistler before the end of the season!

This season has been very challenging both mentally and physically for me, but it has been a big learning experience. It is very frustrating and discouraging to have crashed twice in one season, and to have to sit at home while I could be away traveling and competing. I had also felt discouraged that all of the hard work that I had put in in the summer went unnoticed, and that people still didn't think I was strong enough even though in the fall I was probably the strongest I had ever been, but I am learning to focus that negative energy on getting even stronger for next season. I have learned where my limits are and when it is okay to push them and also when I need to step back and take the time to recover. If it had been up to me I would have been back snowboarding right away after the first time that I cashed. Even though it was boring at times and frustrating sitting at home I am glad that I took the advice of my Physio and waited before getting on snow. While my ribs had mostly recovered, and physically I was feeling better, I still had some concussion symptoms that limited me from snowboarding. In the end when I did get the ok to snowboard again, I was so excited to be snowboarding again that I ignored symptoms that I shouldn't have and continued snowboarding anyways because I was so determined to race again right away. Right up until I raced in Germany I was still getting minor headaches quite regularly, and wasn't quite feeling right, all of which I convinced myself were not related to a concussion. All in all I think ignoring stuff like that was the biggest mistake that I have made this year, and it is very important to protect your noggins friends!

This year I also launched a make a champ campaign to help cover the cost of my snowboard season. I am excited to have raised $2663 after make a champ fees. I want to send a big thank you to everyone who contributed to my campaign it means the world to me! And especially to The Choice, Anne Hill, Joanne & Ernie Gareau, Sharon Kelly, Anne Hall, Martin Aitken, Michelle Ranks, Debbie Anderson, and Joe Gaudet for their support.